Join us for a screening and conversation with Roger and James Deakins, moderated by New York Times columnist and the host of the Athenaeum Center’s Film & Culture Series, Ross Douthat.
The Man Who Wasn’t There, directed by the Coen Brothers, is a neo-noir tale set in 1949 California, following the quiet, unassuming barber Ed Crane, who becomes entangled in a web of deceit and murder. Ed, played by Billy Bob Thornton, sees an opportunity to change his mundane life when he becomes involved in a blackmail scheme, but his plans spiral out of control as he grapples with the consequences of his actions. With its atmospheric cinematography, sharp dialogue, and unexpected twists, the film explores themes of identity, fate, and the consequences of ambition in a world where reality is as elusive as the shadows it casts.
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand, Michael Badalucco, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Jenkins, and Tony Shalhoub.
